Luminescent gas lighting apparatus



Nov. 27', 1934.

J. O. CADIEUX LUMINESCENT .GAS LGHTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 30, 1930 20 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/X/ Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT ormes wmnmscnm cas LIGH'IING mmms Joseph 0. Cadieux, Meriden, Conn., assignor to Connecticut Telephone & Electric Corporation, Meriden, Conn., a corporation oi Delaware Application October 30, 1930, Serial No. 492,321

8 Claims.

protected contacts adapted to receive plug-irr.

prongs of the lamp base. When the lamp isbi a type requiring high voltage, separate transformers are provided for the two tubes and these transformers are mounted in a housing which supports the socket. A single reflector is preierably provided surrounding the lamp zo base and the tubes and an outer lens or glass may be provided.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a construction embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a iront view of the lamp alone.

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical parts of the apparatus.

The tubes 5 and 6 are formed of suitable material and preierably coiled into spirals which are tapered so that they have sonne of the characteristics of the helix. These tubes contain suitable gas such as neon, and electrodes adapted to the conditions of use. Diflerent gases may be used in the. diflerent tubes or the desired colors such as red and green may be pro- 35 'duced in other suitable ways. The ends 01 the v tubes are supported in a base '7 which may be formed oi moulded insulation and provided with prongs 8, 9, 10 and 11, electrically connected with the eiectrodes of the respective tubes.

The socket 12 may also be formed o! suitably moulded insulation and provided with two pairs 01 contact clips such as 13 and l4to receive the prongs of the tube base. These clips are preterabiy housed in the socket and protectedby a plate or disc 15, of insulating material, through which the prongs can be inserted but which dise prevents accidentai engagement with the clips. This dise may be held in place by a central rivet 12. The circuit terminals may be secured to the clips such as 13 and 14 by s'uitable tubular rivets such as 14 It will be seen that the two sections or tubes are concentrica1ly mounted with the terminal ends et the tubes and the prongs extending 155 parallel with the common axes 01 the sections.

The terminal endsof each tube are arianged diametricaily opposite eachother, the ends of one tube altemating with the ends of the other 7 tube 50 as to keep the parts of opposite polarity separated as far as possible within the limits of the device. The central section 5 extends outwardly in front of the outer section 6 so that the light irom the central sections is not laterally obscured by the presence of the outer section.

When it is necessary to employ transfoxmers,

I use separate transiormers 16 and 17 for the two tubes, which transformers will be designed to provide the proper voltage for the respective tubes. The transiormers may be mounted in a housing'l8, having a face plate 19 secured to it, for instance, by rivets or screws 20. The socket 12 may be secured to this face plate by suitable rivets or screws 21.

The reflector 23 may be of suitable character and is'mounted concentricaily of the socket and lamp base. A glass or lens 24 of suitable character is also preierably provided for protection of the tubes and for such modification of the light as may be desired. A casing 25 surrounds the lamp socket and reflector and has a spring ring 26 01 the usual character, or other suitable means for detachably securing the glass 24 in place. The transformer housing may also be further protected by a casing 27 secured to the part 25 by fastening devices 28. An insulating washer or gasket 29 may be inserted between the parts 25 and 27 of the casing. The apparatus may be conveniently supported from a conduit or standard 30 representing a part of the usual metailic conduit system.

A relay 31 may be employed to suitably control the turning on and oi! ci. the current for the respective tubes.

it possible for instance to employ a single lamp for producing red and green light suitable for trafic signal systems. Such a lamp can be made and sold and handled as a unit and is readfly inserted, removed and replaced. It will be seen that the transformer housing can be separated irom the usuaielectfical conduit tubes and that the outer casing of the lamp and the reflector are adapted to -be secured as a unit to the transformer housing.

By the use of such a duplex or multiple color lamp it is possible to obtain a combined color signal indicating caution so that/a single lamp unit can be used to produce stop go" and caution signale all within a single reflector.

It is well understood that such incandescent gas tube lamps operate with a high degree of efliciency and at low cost. My present invention has the added important advantage of concentrating the signals in a single unit. This is not only convenient and a cheap method of installation but it provides the added advantage of 10- cating all the signals concentrically so that the observers attention is concentrated on a single point.

Although the apparatus is especially designed for trafllc signal control, it will be obvious that it may be used for display and brnamental light- 1ng eflects. The center tube 5 preferably emits red light and the outer tube 6 green. The outer tube is somewhat longer than the inner and may recuire a diflerent transformer.

I claim:

1. A multiple tube lamp comprising two helicospiral sections mounted one within the other, the inner section being arranged in front of the outer section, said sections have terminal ends extending substantially parallel to the axes of the sections and spaced apart approximately ninety degrees around the axis of the lamp.

2. A duplex lamp tube comprising two spiral sections arranged one within the other, the inner section being conical in shape and projecting beyond the general plane 01 the outer section and having two terminal ends projecting from the rear parallel with the axis of the section, the outer section having two terminal ends projecting from the rear and parallel with the axis of the section.

3. A multiple tube lamp comprising two helico-spiral sections arranged one within the other, and a common base having contact prongs arranged in alternate pairs projecting parallel with the axes et the sections, the inner section having two terminal ends mounted in the base and connected to two of the opposite prongs and the outer section having two terminal ends mounted in the base and connected to the alternate prongs.

4. A luminescent gas lamp comprising a plurality cf gas-filled tubes concentrically and spirally disposed and a common supporting base fox said tubes having contact terminals parallel to the axis of the tubes, the latter having the ends thereof adjacent to, and electrically connected with, said terminals and being adapted to emit difierent colored lights when energized.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of curved neon tubes, the convolutions thereof being in substantially con1c alignment, an insulating base having the ends of said tubes imbedded therein, contact terminals protruding from said base and having electrical engagement with the ends of said tubes, and means for removably mounting said base, whereby said terminals are connected to a source of electrical nergy.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality ct neon bulbs adapted to emit difl'erent colored lights, said bulbs being interwoven in the form of conical helices, means for mounting said bulbs in a portable base, and means in said base for transmitting electric energy to said bulbs.

7. In appartus ofthe class described, a plurality of tubular neon lamps interwoven in the form of conical helices, 8. portable base having the ends of said lamps imbedded therein, and means in said base for independencly connecting each of said lamps to a source of electrical energy.

8. In lighting apparatus, a plurality of tubes containing gas adapted to be rendered luminescent by an electric current, said tubes having the ends thereof imbedded in a free insulating base, and the body portions thereof wound into cooperating helico-spirals, said gas being adapted to emit diferent colors of light when said tube ends are connected across high-tension terminals.

JOSEPH O. CADIEUX. 

